NEW DELHI: Expressing serious concern about the wide gap between the number of hit-and-run accidents in the past five years and the minuscule number of victims’ kin getting a paltry compensation of Rs 2 lakh each, the Supreme Court on Friday mandated the police to inform the kin of such accident victims about availability of compensation scheme under the Motor Vehicle Act.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal said the ministry of transport and highways has published reports which indicate on an average 65,000 hit-and-run accidents in India, but the concerned minister’s statement in Parliament indicated that in the last five years “there were 660 deaths in hit and run cases, and there were 113 injury cases for which compensation of Rs 184.60 lakh was disbursed”.
Writing the judgment and asking the Centre to consider within eight weeks an enhancement in compensation, Justice Oka said, “If we compare the number of hit and run road accidents reported and the number of cases registered for seeking compensation, what stares at the face is that a negligible number of victims have taken advantage of the said scheme.”
The bench asked the SC-appointed standing committee on road safety to look into the causes of non-implementation of the scheme under the MV Act and direct corrective measures to be taken to ensure that every claimant who is entitled to benefit of the scheme is encouraged to take benefit thereof.
It also directed the police in all states that once they conclude an accident to be a hit-and-run case, it must inform the kin of the victim or the injured person about the scheme under which the victim’s kin gets Rs 2 lakh and the injured get Rs 50,000 each. “There are cases where the police, as well as the claims enquiry officer, are aware of the fact that a hit and run accident has occurred. However, no efforts are made to ensure that the persons entitled to seek compensation file their claims,” it said.
The SC found the amount paltry and asked the Centre to consider enhancing the compensation within eight weeks. Sub-section (2) of Section 161 of MV Act provides that in case of death of any person resulting from hit and run motor accident, a compensation of Rs 2 lakh or such higher amount as may be prescribed by the central government shall be paid. In case of grievous injury, the compensation amount is Rs 50,000. The bench said, “The value of money diminishes with time. We direct the central government to consider whether the compensation amounts can be gradually enhanced annually. The Central Government shall take an appropriate decision on this issue within eight weeks.”
As per the ministry, there were 55,942 hit and run motor accidents in 2016, which increased to 65,186 in 2017, 69,621 in 2018, and 69,621 in 2019. During the financial year 2022-23, only 205 claims were received under the scheme, of which 95 have been settled.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal said the ministry of transport and highways has published reports which indicate on an average 65,000 hit-and-run accidents in India, but the concerned minister’s statement in Parliament indicated that in the last five years “there were 660 deaths in hit and run cases, and there were 113 injury cases for which compensation of Rs 184.60 lakh was disbursed”.
Writing the judgment and asking the Centre to consider within eight weeks an enhancement in compensation, Justice Oka said, “If we compare the number of hit and run road accidents reported and the number of cases registered for seeking compensation, what stares at the face is that a negligible number of victims have taken advantage of the said scheme.”
The bench asked the SC-appointed standing committee on road safety to look into the causes of non-implementation of the scheme under the MV Act and direct corrective measures to be taken to ensure that every claimant who is entitled to benefit of the scheme is encouraged to take benefit thereof.
It also directed the police in all states that once they conclude an accident to be a hit-and-run case, it must inform the kin of the victim or the injured person about the scheme under which the victim’s kin gets Rs 2 lakh and the injured get Rs 50,000 each. “There are cases where the police, as well as the claims enquiry officer, are aware of the fact that a hit and run accident has occurred. However, no efforts are made to ensure that the persons entitled to seek compensation file their claims,” it said.
The SC found the amount paltry and asked the Centre to consider enhancing the compensation within eight weeks. Sub-section (2) of Section 161 of MV Act provides that in case of death of any person resulting from hit and run motor accident, a compensation of Rs 2 lakh or such higher amount as may be prescribed by the central government shall be paid. In case of grievous injury, the compensation amount is Rs 50,000. The bench said, “The value of money diminishes with time. We direct the central government to consider whether the compensation amounts can be gradually enhanced annually. The Central Government shall take an appropriate decision on this issue within eight weeks.”
As per the ministry, there were 55,942 hit and run motor accidents in 2016, which increased to 65,186 in 2017, 69,621 in 2018, and 69,621 in 2019. During the financial year 2022-23, only 205 claims were received under the scheme, of which 95 have been settled.